STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1512

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 786

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after leaving a hiking trail to enter an area closed to the public or hiking on a trail closed to the public, with a sign giving notice of the closure.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, State Fire Council, Maui Fire Department, and Honolulu Fire Department.

Your Committee finds that searching for and rescuing hikers who enter property or trails closed to the public is a costly and dangerous undertaking for governmental entities. Your Committee believes that these governmental entities should be reimbursed for at least half the cost of the search and rescue expenses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee strongly urges the Department of Law Enforcement, State Fire Council, and Hawaii Firefighters Association to work collaboratively to develop a plan to address this issue and report back to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair